Price for a new central-air A/C unit?

[MP1983]

We own a modest 1970's single story 3 bedroom/2 bath home that we've been in since 1999. It had a Rudd A/C unit when we moved in and miraculously it has lasted all this time...but it's days are numbered (it was produced August 1995).

We have it maintained annually by the same company who put in a Lennox heater for us back around 2002. I've inquired from time to time about cost of a new A/C unit and it seems 5-8 years ago $3000-$4000 was plenty to cover a new unit.

Now, supposedly because of a bunch of new EPA regulations and the new coolant being used, a new unit costs $8000-$10,000!!!!

Tomorrow, a guy is coming out to take a bunch of measurements and make the necessary calculations about what is supposedly needed to meet all the new EPA regs and discuss unit options. Regardless, I do plan to shop around and research this as much as necessary before we commit to anything.

Have any of you guys (or gals) out there gotten a new central air set up recently, and was there this kind of sticker shock??

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Also, anyone who has a new unit that they like for its quiet & economical function, please feel free to share the brand and model number.

 

[hittman77]

In July of 2015 I had my furnace and central air unit replaced.

Bryant is the brand I selected from a local company. Remember, we're in central IL, not TX so we plan for cold in the below zero range to heat pushing 100. My home is about 2500 square feet built in 1970. We use natural gas / forced air.

I paid them about $7,000.00 including rebates, sales tax and installation for the furnace, central unit, A-coil, new electronic thermostat, etc. This was neither the most expensive option nor the cheapest.

 

[blackdeuce]

Have you talked to more than one HVAC contractor? I find that prices can vary widely depending on the brand of equipment and the contractor doing the work. I'm guessing that Lennox is pricier stuff along with brands like Carrier.

I had a guy quote me a system for our smallish second home in St. Joseph, MO. My son lives there. I think it was around $4500, but it is a relatively small house.

 

[MP1983]

The tech who did the annual maintenance on our existing Ruud unit said about $8,000 for a new Ruud unit installed, and $10,000 for the Lennox. These were just ballpark figures on his part, but after a little searching with google I think these figures are way off. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

The tech was in his late 30's early 40's and seemed pretty knowledgeable, but these guys can be a little flaky. (No offense to any Heating/Air Conditioning techs out there, but we get service twice a year and I've met a couple lulu's over the past 15 years.)

 

[onebadvet]

Good luck, here is Florida they use have rebate from FPL, but now it's over, so we are at the mercy of which company wants to give price we can live with, and they also can make money.

 

[Jessie]

Look for sales. We just replaced ours for 5k and it cools and heats about 1800'-2000' sq. ft.
That was the whole system. Indoor and outdoor units. It is an exchanger, which may make a difference. Apples and oranges thing.
This is a busy time of year for AC units. I don't know whether that helps or hurts.

 

[blackdeuce]

It wouldn't hurt to mention that you'll be getting pricing from two contractors. Let them know that up front and tell them that you aren't going to bid shop, but that you want a competitive price. And no surprises. Everything should be included in their bid. Some contractors like to ding you later with additional charges.

 

[rwsmith]

A new Amana.......

....will cost 5 to 6 thousand for the unit plus install. I'm starting to look at one. now.

 

[gman51]

I have a Trane heat pump for central heat and ac that was installed in 91 when I built the house. I think I paid $3200 and that included installing the vents and piping also.

So far so good but the compressor sometimes is a bit noisey. Over the years I have had the control board in the outside unit replaced twice. The outside fan motor was replaced but that didn't fix it. Turned out the control board was what was bad again. He didn't charge me for the fan because he wasn't going to take it back out.

I was told about $10 grand for a new unit. At my age if it quits then I will just put window units in a couple rooms. It would cost me 4x more just for materials to build my house today than what it cost me back in 91. I probably built 50% of the house myself and I figured I had spent $14,000 in it when I moved in. Since then I have spent maybe 8 grand more for upgrade repairs.
Nothing is cheap these days.

 

[i1afli]

You're probably looking at about a 4 - 5 ton unit (estimate about 1 ton for every 600 ft2), heat pump-only since you're in Texas (probably don't need gas furnace).
Low end...14-SEER, single stage compressor and fan, simple t-stat...$5000 - $6000.
High end...20-SEER, variable speed compressor and fan, color/touch screen internet-ready programmable t-stat...$8500 - $10000.
More if you want to go dual-fuel (heat pump with gas furnace).
i'd buy as much SEER as i could afford...at least 17 SEER...this will probably get you a dual- or variable- speed compressor and fan.

 

[427mach1]

I had 1.5 ton heat pump with 5KW heat strips replaced with a 14 SEER unit in my basement (1600 square feet) at a cost of $4400. In late 2015, I had my 4 ton A/C with 100,000 BTU main floor unit (2200 square feet) replaced with a 16 SEER unit for $6900. Both replacements were Trane.

 

[chief38]

I've got two units. One is a 5 ton that cost me about $8,000 17 years ago, and the smaller unit is 3.5 ton that cost me about 3,500 around 5 or 6 years ago. My big unit still runs well, but at 17 years old I am just waiting for it to **** out. It's 93ºF here right now and the house is nice and comfy - lets hope it lasts for a few more seasons! Can't imagine what it will cost to replace now!!

 

[smokindog]

If you're in the DFW metroplex PM me and I'll send you to the folks I use. I've had 2 of my 3 five ton units replaced in the last couple years, one just a year ago.

I put in a higher mid tier American Standard/Trane, including furnace and some duct work for under $8K TTL (including $150 for the stupid permit [tax] to the Town). You don't need better than an 80% furnace in north Texas and I find it best to replace the whole system as they'll have to do work indoors for the new evaporator and that usually means sacrificing efficiency to fit one to an existing plenum or work (labor). Furnaces in attics take a beating anyway Also, you still have to pay for the "juice" to charge the system so if your old unit is a different refrigerant, ..... It's not cheap anymore.

My units were 2002 and probably could have been repaired but have taken a couple lightning events and already have been through new starting capacitors and motor boosts. The one I replaced a couple years years ago got fried and the one last year had developed a very slow leak. The cost of the leak test and the repair and the "juice" would have approached $2K.

Like buying a car, watch out for all the add ons!!!! I already have WIFI Tstats and did not go to all the multi continuous fan speed blah blah blah. Just a solid mid-series 18-20 SEER unit. I do get the 4 inch filter box (Honeywell).

I keep the old condenser pad and use them under hose bibs. They make nice platforms. Most companies require a new pad for warranty coverage. I also keep the cage fans (use one as an exhaust in the garage) and take all the start capacitors for both the condenser and the fans! If you're not savy on large capacitors, ask the tech to remove them for you. These items aren't real expensive to buy but if you need to have a new start capacitor installed in the summer off the repair truck it'll run you 100's of dollars for a $30 part or better yet, FREE from your garage!

 

[Jessie]

I'd be tempted to buy a ceiling fan and a few registered magnums instead.

 

[wingriderz]

We had to put a new one in in a house we bought the previous year. That was back in 2011 We did go with a Trane top of the line the old unit was not big enough. The house was 4 bed three bath . about 2,300 feet under air. I think the Trane was around 7 to 8 k.

 

[JSR III]

I was at BJ's the other day and they had 12,000 BTU window units for $299.99 plus tax. Five of those placed throughout your house should do nicely. Cost about $1,500.

 

[gman51]

The only disadvantage to window units is the cost to run them is often much more than having a central air system.
My house is only 1260 sq ft and has a 3 ton Trane. He said the 3 ton was to much but I went to the 3 in case I added on a big family room later on. I never did the add on room.

 

[smokindog]

Just in case some don't know, installing a unit larger than required can be just as bad as too small as it doesn't cycle frequently enough.

The only disadvantage to window units is the cost to run them is often much more than having a central air system.
My house is only 1260 sq ft and has a 3 ton Trane. He said the 3 ton was to much but I went to the 3 in case I added on a big family room later on. I never did the add on room.

 

[Farmer17]

I built my new house less than two years ago and got several HVAC bids. My house is 3,200 sf with high ceilings and two stories and the company I selected put in a 5 ton Comfortmaker 16 SEER unit with 3 mechanical bypass zones and 3 thermostats for $11,500. The system works great and I'm happy with it and our bills are pretty low in the middle of summer time. Other contractors were bidding 3 separate systems for over $20,000, plus I would have 3 times as many things to repair or replace.

 

[walkin jack]

A lot can depend upon what all you change out in the attic like ductwork and registers and etc. Also the size unit you choose. there a lot of choices/options here.

We have been with the same company for over 30 years. The old man was terrific. He has passed away and now his son is our AC guy. He is every bit as good a man and as good an AC guy and there could be. Any time we call him which has been frequently the last 5 years he always comes by the same day.

Our old unit has been on it's last legs. They stopped making parts for it years ago but our guy had always been able to patch it up. We decided back in March to go ahead and bite the bullet. Why wait until August and triple digits to go a whole day or two without AC.

Our furnace was almost as old as the AC and he cut us a HUGE deal if we replace both. So we got the new top of the line AC and furnace and all new ductwork and even a double filtered unit for 7K.

You know, if you live in the same house for 39 years you can easily loose count of all the dishwasher, water heaters, AC & furnaces, garbage disposals, garage door openers, stove tops and ovens, etc you will wind up buying. It's all part of the privilege of home ownership. If there is any fairness in owning your own home for a life time then this should be our last go-round with the AC/Furnace deal.

We have also done two complete remodels here and I'll guarantee you that we are definitely done with that.

Our latest remodel in "15 we got new washer & dryer, Big side by side fridge and a good upright freezer for the utility room, New water lines, New 30 year roof. The hope is that with all that we might now be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are driving 2 13-year old vehicles and the stove top and oven aren't going to last too much longer but hopefully everything else will last as long as we need it to.